How to Protect Your Child From Scalds and Burns

Each year over 2,000 children attend A & E with scalds or burns resulting from accidents in or around the home, the causes are varied but the biggest cause for children under 5 are scalds from hot drinks, whilst the most severe scalds are a result of children getting into hot bath water.
Burns and scalds can come from a variety of sources within the home, cigarettes, matches, fires, hair straighteners, pans of hot water etc. so parents need to be extremely vigilant in keeping their child away from such dangers and taking care not to leave items where a child could access them.
Always keep in mind that a child's skin is much more sensitive than an adults.
Here are tips to protect your child from getting burnt or scalded.
- do not let your child into the kitchen unless supervised, the use of safety gates could prevent a child from entering the kitchen when the parent is not present
- do not let pan handles hang over the edge of the cooker, always turn the handles away from the front of the cooker.
- never hold a hot drink and a child at the same time.
- when running a bath always run the cold water first, then add the hot water to achieve the desired temperature, you should always test the water prior to letting the child get into the bath.
- if possible fit thermostatic mixing valves to taps.
- keep hot drinks out of the reach of children.
- when having social activities outdoors make sure children are kept well away from fireworks and barbecues.
- in summer ensure your child is protected from the effects of the sun on it's skin.
Jack Biggs
Everyone has an interest in keeping their child safe, please click on these websites for more tips on what you can do to reduce the risk of accidents
http://hubpages.com/hub/Accidents-in-the-Home-12-Tips-to-Keep-Your-Child-Safe
http://accidentsinthehome.blogspot.com/
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